Abstract: A tonneau cover apparatus for attaching a flexible cover about a cargo box of a vehicle, preferably a pickup truck. The apparatus preferably includes, a support frame removably attached about the perimeter of a cargo box of the vehicle, an elongated end plate attached to an end of the flexible cover, an end plate engagement member attached to the support frame, preferably one on each side of the support frame, and a locking member movably attached to the end plate. The end plate is preferably attached to an end of the flexible cover and is configured to cooperatively engage the end plate engagement member or members. The end plate may be retained in an engaged position by the locking member. In alternate embodiments, a plurality of locking members are provided, preferably locking members that slide within a channel in the end plate.

Abstract: A wall structure (10) comprising concrete composite masonry blocks (12) supported and interconnected by elongate support beams (16) is disclosed. The blocks (12) are shaped to be stacked in vertically independent columns (14) and are held in place by the specially shaped, lightweight support beams (16) placed between the adjacent columns (14). The wall structure (10) may be adapted for use as a bearing or non-bearing wall.

Abstract: A tonneau cover apparatus for attaching a flexible cover about a cargo box of a vehicle, preferably a pickup truck. The apparatus preferably includes, a support frame removably attached about the perimeter of a cargo box of the vehicle, an elongated end plate attached to an end of the flexible cover, end plate engagement members attached to the support frame and first and second locking members movably connected with the end plate. The end plate may be retained in the fixed stretching position by first and second locking members that preferably slide within a channel in the end plate. In one embodiment, an elongated member is secured to the respective locking members and to a turn knob such that force can be placed upon each respective locking member by turning the turn knob and pulling the elongated member so as to draw each of the respective locking members away from the first position toward the second position.

Abstract: An electronic commerce system managing sale and distribution of products over the Internet or other type of network. In order to prevent attempts by users to fraudulently obtain the products, system analyzes the information submitted by the users in connection with stored and associated information in an order to determine that likelihood that the order is an attempt at fraud. Based upon the determination, system accepts or declines the order. The system also saves the user-entered information for use in determining whether to accept to decline future orders.

Abstract: A Strap Assembly for a tonneau cover and a tonneau cover apparatus including a strap assembly. The apparatus preferably includes, a flexible cover, the flexible cover having first and second ends; a support frame for attachment to a cargo box of a pick-up truck; the support frame having a front bar to which the first end of the flexible cover is secured. The strap assembly includes a strap bracket; and a buckle insertion member; a strap to secure the flexible cover in a rolled up configuration proximate the front bar when the flexible cover is not in use to cover an opening defined by the perimeter of the cargo box. The strap has first and second ends; the buckle insertion member being secured to the first end of the strap; and a strap bracket attached to the front bar. The strap bracket includes a buckle insertion receiving member and a strap receiving opening.

Abstract: A cable trough for installing cables alongside a railway line or other right of way is described. The cable trough is constructed using longitudinally oriented reinforcing fibers coated with polymeric resin that generally aligns the reinforcing fibers with the length of the cable trough. One or more connector clips may be used to secure respective portions of the cable trough to one another. The cable trough is provided with a cover that may be removably secured to an elongate channel to protect the cables housed within the cable trough. Elbows, corners, tees, and other connectors may be provided to run the cable trough in any desired direction. A method of installing cables in a cable trough is also described.

Abstract: A load-bearing device including an overload indicator and a wire form overload indicator are provided for interconnection of load bearing connectors, preferably elongated load bearing connectors, for bearing a load. In preferred embodiments, the load bearing connectors are chains, ropes, wire ropes, cables, straps and the like, preferably chain. The wire form overload indicator preferably includes a wire form quick-link having a first thickness, and first and second elongated sides. The first elongated side preferably includes an interconnectable gap through which connection loops of the load bearing connectors can pass when the interconnectable gap is unconnected. The interconnectable gap includes a connection end and a connectable end, the connecting end having a connector capable of connecting the connecting end to the connectable end to close the gap. The second elongated side preferably has a portion having a diminished thickness as compared to the first thickness.

Abstract: A lock assembly for attachment to an enclosure door. In preferred embodiments, the enclosure door has a lock assembly receiving opening for receiving the lock assembly, the lock assembly includes a lock case assembly having a bolt that can be moved between at least two positions; a lock actuating assembly interconnected with the lock case assembly; and a mounting plate having an interior side and an exterior side. The lock actuating assembly is preferably secured to the mounting plate on the exterior side and the lock case assembly is preferably secured to the mounting plate on the interior side. The lock assembly can be secured to the enclosure door by an interior mounting plate securing bracket, preferably two such brackets secured to the interior side of the mounting plate. In alternate embodiments, the present invention provides a method of securing a lock assembly to an enclosure door.

Abstract: An igniter for ignition over a wide air/fuel ratio range. Igniter includes an igniter body including an internal cavity disposed substantially within the igniter body, an internal spark gap disposed substantially within the internal cavity, an external spark gap disposed substantially on an exposed surface of the igniter body, and a fuel charge delivery system for delivering a fuel charge to the internal cavity.

Abstract: A composition for forming an electrode for use in a torch jet spark plug is provided. The composition comprises a ceramic material, ceramic particles, and an electrically conductive material. The ceramic particles are dispersed within the ceramic material. At least some of the ceramic particles have a predetermined size. This predetermined size is at least as large as the thickness of the finally formed electrode. The electrically conductive material is capable of being manipulated to form ribbons around the ceramic particles and of being sintered to form the electrode. The resultant electrode has good resistance to explosive erosion mechanisms, which consequently increases the life of the torch jet spark plug.

Abstract: A tonneau cover apparatus including a strap assembly. The apparatus preferably including a flexible cover and a support frame for attachment to a cargo box of a pick-up truck; the support frame having a front bar to the first end of the flexible cover is secured. The strap assembly including a strap bracket; a buckle insertion member and a strap to secure the flexible cover in a rolled up configuration proximate the front bar. The buckle insertion member is secured to a first end of the strap and the strap bracket is attached to the front bar. The strap bracket including a buckle insertion receiving member and a strap receiving opening. The buckle insertion receiving member resists movement forward of the front bar of a rolled-up segment of the flexible cover, when the rolled-up segment is secured to the front bar by the strap.

Abstract: A sealing gasket for sealing gaps adjacent to a pickup truck is provided. In alternate embodiments a combination pickup truck and sealing gasket is also provided. The sealing gasket of the present invention comprises an elongated member made of a deformable and a somewhat resilient polymeric material. The polymeric material is preferably a closed cell sponge material made of one of a number of polymeric materials which are the somewhat flexible, resilient, water resistant and the like. The cross-section of the elongated member, if divided into two parts, includes a generally triangular portion and a generally semi-circular portion which come together to form a teardrop-like shape. The elongated member preferably has a first lumen which is generally circular in shape when the sealing gasket is undeformed, and preferably a second lumen which has two converging tear surfaces which converge to join at one end and join to an arcuate inner surface at the other end.

Abstract: A method of determining an average length of reinforcing fiber in a sample of reinforcing fibers is disclosed. A sample of reinforcing fibers is weighed to obtain a total sample weight. The sample of reinforcing fibers is placed in a fiber separating mechanism and suspended in water. The water is stirred after which the water is allowed to settle such that the sample of reinforcing fiber divides into a plurality of fractions in separate sections of the fiber separating mechanism. Each fraction has reinforcing fibers of substantially similar lengths and is separately weighed. An average fiber length is calculated from the relative weights of each of the plurality of fractions and the total sample weight. In addition, a method of determining an average length of a reinforcing fiber in a composite material having a resin and a plurality of reinforcing fibers is disclosed.

Abstract: A fastening element for operatively connecting masonry units together in a fixed relation. The fastening element comprises a body with a web having opposing surfaces, and a plurality of projections that extend in a generally perpendicular direction therefrom. The projections are spaced apart from each other and configured to engage portions of masonry units therebetween in a constrained relation. The fastening element permits two, three, or four masonry units to be operatively connected together in variety of configurations without the use of mortar.

Abstract: A block for use in constructing a retaining wall. The block has a bottom with a non-planar portion that forms a gap between the block and the top surface of a lower course of similar blocks when the block is placed thereon. This gap allows the block to rest on the lower course of blocks in a stable, level manner by providing a space that can accommodate small amounts of intrusive material such as rubble, dirt, or miscellaneous debris which would otherwise interfere with the stacking of the blocks. The block's bottom may also include a plurality of grooves that provide additional clearance in the gap for larger bits of intrusive material such as pebbles or small stones. Preferably, the grooves have angled walls which act to funnel the larger bits of intrusive material into an area of adequate clearance when the block is being placed on a lower course of similar blocks.

Abstract: The present invention is a safety hook (12, 12?) having a wire spring latch (26, 26?). The wire spring latch (26, 26?) is a wire loop pawl. The safety hook (12, 12?) is made of a heavy gauge wire form material, which is preferably bent only to form first and second ends (14, 14?, 16, 16?), a chain link securing end (14, 14?) and a hook opening end (16, 16?), respectively. The wire loop pawl (26, 26?) is preferably a rod of elastically deformable material, bent to form an open loop (28, 28?) and bent-over ends (32, 32?, 34, 34?) about which the pawl (26, 26?) pivots with respect to the body (12, 12?) of the safety hook (10, 10?) when the latch (26, 26?) is deformed and forced away from a distal end (38, 38?) of the hook opening end (16, 16?) of the safety hook (10, 10?). The bent over ends (32, 32?, 34, 34?) of the wire loop pawl (26, 26?) are not coaxial.

Abstract: A cylindrical magnetron target and spindle attachment apparatus for affixing a cylindrical magnetron target to a rotatable support spindle. The attachment apparatus includes a target and a spindle. The target defines a receiving portion. The spindle has a spindle plug. The spindle plug is disposed within the receiving portion of the target. The attachment apparatus increases the speed and ease of removing and installing cylindrical rotating targets onto a support spindle.

Abstract: Molding material consisting of resin coated reinforcing fiber strands in a molten mass of resin is prepared at a molding site for controlled supply to a molding machine. Continuous strands of fiber from supply spools are entrained with pressurized, molten resin flowing through a coating device and coated with the resin. The movement of the fiber and resin through the coating die may be controlled so as to accurately and predictably produce any desired quantity the molding material, i.e. the coating apparatus may be operated in a discontinuous manner to provide any predetermined quantity of molding material to a receiving device. The receiving device may be the feed screw for an injection molding machine or simply a plate movable to and from a compression molding machine. The fiber strands may be cut into predetermined lengths by a cutting device positioned downstream of the aforesaid coating device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a septic heater system and method for preventing a freeze-up in a septic system. The heater system typically is used with a previously-installed septic system that includes a septic tank, drop boxes, connecting sewer pipe, a drainfield, and one or more vertical access/cleanout pipes which rise from one or more portions of the septic system to corresponding access ports at ground level. The heater system, which is adapted for connection to the access ports of one or more of the vertical access cleanout pipes, comprises a heater and fan system defining an output port for providing a flow of heated air at the heater output port. The heater output port is defined by a structure configured for coupling the output port to one or more of the access/cleanout pipes. The heater and fan system, when activated to provide the flow of heated air and when coupled to an access/cleanout pipe, prevents septic-system freeze-up by delivering the heated air down the access/cleanout pipe to the septic system.

Abstract: A retaining wall block and a system and method for constructing a retaining wall with multiple blocks laid in successive courses. The system comprises a plurality of building blocks and a flexible anchor grid. Each block has top and bottom surfaces, front and rear surfaces, opposing side surfaces, and a downwardly extending engagement section. The downwardly extending engagement section is configured to be directly connected to a sheet of flexible, pliant anchoring material of the type having plurality of perforations. The sheet of anchoring material is laid over a course of blocks and extended into earth fill behind the wall. The downwardly extending engagement section is also configured to engage and position adjacent courses of blocks relative to each other in a predetermined, setback relation. Preferably, the engagement section has one or more teeth that are arranged in a linear row and which are constructed and arranged to project through apertures in the anchoring grid sheet.